In this course you will learn how to use survey weights to estimate descriptive statistics, like means and totals, and more complicated quantities like model parameters for linear and logistic regressions. Software capabilities will be covered with R® receiving particular emphasis. The course will also cover the basics of record linkage and statistical matching—both of which are becoming more important as ways of combining data from different sources. Combining of datasets raises ethical issues which the course reviews. Informed consent may have to be obtained from persons to allow their data to be linked. You will learn about differences in the legal requirements in different countries.

From the lesson

Ethics

This module will discuss key issues in obtaining consent to record linkage. Failure to consent can lead to bias estimates. Current research examples will be given as well as practical suggestions on how to obtain linkage consent.